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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 2012)
E W ’ S W E D D I N G S 2 0 1 2 County Weddings LANE COUNTY WILL HELP YOU DO THE DEED I ’m the fi rst to admit that I am not totally up on the way this whole wedding thing works. I ducked out at the last minute on my own trip to the altar. And many of my friends are single; apparently the rest think my wedding unwillingness is contagious, and this has led to a pleasant dearth of bridesmaid gigs. While I’ve been to my share of weddings, I’ve pretty much managed to avoid all the behind-the-scenes stuff. This is probably why, after one or two probing journalistic questions about getting married, Marle Hoehne, program supervisor at Lane County Deeds and Records, gently inquired: “Can I ask you a personal question? You’ve never been married, have you?” Who knew that in order to get hitched in Oregon a couple must both get a license and have an actual ceremony, too? Turns out you can’t just sign a document and be done with it. The license costs $60. A domestic partnership certifi cate costs the same. Hoehne says the state does not require a ceremony for domestic partnerships. The lack of a ceremony requirement emphasizes that get- ting domestically partnered is not the same as getting mar- ried — in everything from the ritual to the rights. The silver lining is that same-sex unions have a little more fl exibility regarding the ceremony itself, since it isn’t mandated. According to Oregon law, a man and woman must declare in front of the person performing the marriage ceremony, as well as two witnesses, that they agree to take each other as husband and wife. You can’t marry your fi rst cousin in Oregon, though apparently there are more states by Camilla Mortensen And while the county clerk and the deputy clerks are authorized to do it, the marriage ceremony is not a mandated function; on days the offi ce is booked up, weddings aren’t performed. But, Hoehne says, on days such as Valentine’s Day, the offi ce adds in extra ceremonies because “the staff are romantics.” The civil ceremony will run you about $100. I’m going to take a wild guess and say that’s a lot cheaper than renting a venue and securing an offi ciant. Admittedly, the architecture of the Lane County Public Service Building and Courthouse doesn’t scream “romantic,” but Hoehne says that, weather permitting, ceremonies are performed up on roof. Otherwise they are in the atrium area, or in a conference room. “The various spots that we go depend on the weather and PHOTO BY T RAS K BE DORT H A what’s available,” Hoehne says. Ceremonies “run the gamut,” Hoehne says, with some in the U.S. where you can marry your cousin than there are couples showing up in tuxes and white dresses with their states allowing same-sex unions. families, and others drumming up the required witnesses Hoehne says a statutory function of the county clerk’s by stopping strangers they meet in the hallway and asking offi ce is to issue marriage licenses. The ceremony must if they have 10 minutes to spare. happen within 60 days. Couples have three options when it An average of fi ve or six ceremonies are performed a comes to getting legally wed, Hoehne says: judges, clergy week, Hoehne says. He adds that at certain times of year, and county clerks. such as the month of June, the number increases. If you aren’t the church, temple, synagogue or insert- How fancy your wedding is or whom you get to religious-venue-of-choice-here type, and you don’t have witness it doesn’t seem to be an indicator of whether a friend who’s a judge, the Lane County clerk’s offi ce you stay hitched. It’s not the witness that matters, nor offers marriage ceremonies weekdays at 9 am and 9:30 am, the ceremony; it’s whom you’re marrying, right? Let me Hoehne says. That’s a little early for me, but for others it’s know how it goes. probably a nice way to start the day. ew THE KIVA C A T E R I N GROCERS, WINE MERCHANTS & BOOKSELLERS G • Simplicity • Elegance • Delicious Food • Friendly Service • Reasonable Prices Wonderful does not mean complicated www.soriah.com 541-342-4410 FOR E VENTS AT :HUK^PJOLZ THKL[VVYKLY +H`ZH>LLR J ` . E AT & P ARK F REE P ARKING LY 7 Days a Week 11:30am - 2:30pm * Dinner 5–9:30pm * 5 Years in Eugene =P[HTPUZOVTLVWH[OPJ YLTLKPLZ UH[\YHSIVK` JHYLWYVK\J[Z YVJ L UNCH B UFFET )\SR-VVKZ/LYIZ :WPJLZ*VMMLLZ ;LHZ >PULJOHTWHNUL ILLY ^ ^ ^ . R P ]H N EW's BEST ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET 2008-2009 -YLZO6YNHUPJ7YVK\JL 6]LYJOLLZLZ KLSPTLH[Z ]PZP[ S OUTHERN AND N ORTHERN I NDIAN C UISINE :WLJPHS[`.V\YTL[ 6YNHUPJ-VVKZ VT M ATT K NIGHT A RENA WHEN YOU DINE WITH US * 1525 Franklin Blvd. Eugene, OR 541-343-7944 12 JANUARY 12, 2012 EUGENE WEEKLY * 136 SW Third • Corvallis, OR * 541-754-7944 SUN-SAT 9am-8pm >[O(]L+6>5;6>5,<.,5, WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
